This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
It’s 2025, and vlogging — live action video blogging, posted on social media sites — is just a part of everyday life. Even if you don’t consider yourself a vlogger, you could be one without even realising it. Do you post little videos of yourself? Or talk-up your top products and style items, influencer-style? If that sounds familiar, you’re vlogging.
Sure, everyone has good camera on their smartphone. But an actual camera can offer lots more, particularly in terms of pro-level features and image quality. All of which means it could be time to upgrade from your phone to a dedicated vlogging camera.
How do you know which camera to choose to help make your vlog really pop? It’s hard enough getting your head around all the social media platforms out there, not to mention the best hardware — especially if you’re a beginner who’s still just exploring the world of vlogs. But don’t worry, content creators: We’re here to help. Here’s some helpful information and a round-up of the best cameras for vlogging.
What makes a camera good for vlogging?
Technically, you could point any video-recording camera at yourself and start nattering away. But there are specific features that make vlogging easier and better:
Video quality — Pay attention to video resolution. You’ll see 4K in most video-recording cameras these days. All the cameras on this list record in 4K as a minimum. Some record with an even higher resolution, such as 5K or 6.2K.
Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth — Finding a camera with built-in WiFi can save you a step as your videos can automatically appear on your smartphone or PC. Some cameras even post directly to social media, which is great for vloggers.
Microphone input — Video quality may get your viewers through the door, but great sound will help keep them there. There isn’t a camera out there without a built-in mic. But for even better quality sound, choose a camera that lets you connect an external mic so you can always upgrade. Without that port you’re stuck.
Stabilisation — Some vloggers just sit in their bedroom and talk to camera – which is fine. But if you want to record videos beyond that you’ll want to search for a camera that has built-in optical image stabilisation. It’ll help ensure that your videos come out smooth no matter what activity you’re doing.
Megapixels — If you aren’t really concerned about shooting still photographs, Megapixels don’t really matter. Though it’s hard to imagine you won’t use a camera for stills — particularly if you’re a selfie-a-holic. And hey, what vlogger isn’t?
Keep these things in mind when shopping around for a vlogging camera.
What camera features do you not need for vlogging?
A vlogging camera is different to a regular camera. This is not traditional photography, so don’t get caught out spending extra on more traditional features. Here are a couple of features you probably don’t need:
Zoom — You don’t actually need a camera with impeccable zoom unless you’re a travel blogger. Zoom is just one of those things that’s nice to have for photography, but for video you’ll probably just be shooting yourself relatively close-up.
Flash — To get the best quality video possible, you’ll want to shoot in well-lit environments. Some cameras do have night vision, but how often do you really need that? Amazon has several lighting bundles that can help illuminate your space like a proper studio set-up, and many are pretty decently priced.
How much does a vlogging camera cost?
It should come as no surprise (hey, we all know regular cameras are expensive), but be prepared to fork out at least a few hundred pounds. The cheapest camera on this list is just a touch under £280, and prices go up to £2,000 — plus the cost of lenses and other equipment, such as a tripod, microphones, or a fancy selfie stick.
What is the best camera for vlogging?
No two vloggers are the same. Everyone has their own content style and preferences. Which means that not everyone will benefit from the exact same camera. In other words, we can’t tell you which camera is best. But we can help by pointing you towards a selection of cameras for a variety of vlogging needs.
These are the best cameras for vlogging in 2025.